The paper reviews the experience of financial reforms in Sudan with a view to assessing their macroeconomic impact and to shedding light on the question why such reforms have not yet brought about visible improvements in financial intermediation. The paper concludes that regardless of the progress achieved in recent years, deficiencies in the reform design, institutional weaknesses, shallow financial markets, shortcomings of the Islamic mode of finance, and strong seasonality remain key factors that constrain financial intermediation. Additional efforts, in particular in bank restructuring, credit instrument design, monetary policy management, and prudential regulation are needed to address the systemic problems of the financial sector and to make it capable of supporting private sector growth.

This book started with a vision to portray Sudanese rural livelihood and question whether microfinance is able to sustain rural living. The village of Al Dagag, in the North Kordofan state of Sudan, was chosen to be the research case study. However, further questions arose due to using the inductive methodology of Grounded Theory. Throughout the entire research process, different categories emerged from the data, which conceptualize the perspective of the rural people on livelihood, microfinance, and financial institutions. The path to remodel the livelihood approach led to including new determinants. (Series: Spectrum. Berlin Series on Society, Economy and Policy in Developing Countries / Spektrum. Berliner Reihe zu Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und Politik in Entwicklungslandern - Vol. 108)

This paper examines Sudan’s Final Review Under the Medium-Term Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) and the 2002 Program. Sudan has made substantial progress over the past five years of SMPs in achieving macroeconomic stability and advancing structural reforms. The program for 2002 represents a strong and credible effort to bring economic policies back on track, reinforce macroeconomic stability, and meet the challenges of weak external environment. The introduction of mechanisms for greater exchange rate flexibility and for saving oil revenues is particularly welcome.

Stefan Ouma seeks to debunk the misconceptions and assumptions about "finance-gone-farming" with a penetrating analysis of case studies taken from both the developed and developing world. The book provides fascinating insights into the inner workings of the agri-focused asset management industry.

Agricultural and rural credit in the developing countries.

This book is the second of two volumes which highlight the concept of financial inclusion from the Islamic perspective. An important element of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), financial inclusion has been given significant prominence in reform and development agendas proposed by the United Nations and G-20. The significance of Islamic financial inclusion goes beyond improved access to finance to encompass enhanced access to savings and risk mitigation products, as well as social inclusion that allows individuals and companies to engage more actively in the real economy. It represents one of the important drivers of economic growth. This volume explores the financial risks associated with lending to low-income groups due to high poverty levels and the lack of collateralization mechanisms. The first book on the market to provide empirical evidence of Islamic microfinance, deposit insurance and micro-entrepreneurship through the analysis of models and country case studies, this edited collection will be of value to those researching development finance, financial inclusion and Islamic finance.